Han Seong-sun raises snow-removal concerns at 337th regular session, urging phased switch to heated road systems near Kukkiwon in Yeoksam 1-dong
Gangnam-gu Assembly member Han Seong-sun, who represents Yeoksam 1 and 2-dong and Nonhyeon 2-dong, urged the district to reassess the effectiveness of automatic brine-spraying systems installed on steep slopes and to phase in road heating cables starting with the highest-risk locations.
Han made the call during a five-minute free speech at the 337th regular session of the Gangnam-gu Council, saying the district must strengthen its winter snow-removal policy given its direct bearing on residents' lives and safety.
The area Han singled out is a steeply inclined alley near the Kukkiwon in Yeoksam 1-dong — the first location where she received a resident complaint after being elected to the council. The slope is reportedly so severe that pushing a stroller up it is a struggle.
Rather than road heating cables, the alley is equipped with an automatic brine-spraying system that releases de-icing solution from nozzles embedded in the pavement when snow falls.
Han said that when heavy snow accumulates, the nozzles can become buried and fail to operate properly. She added that the protruding fixtures pose a tripping hazard for residents walking along the alley.
Residents had also complained that the nozzles were originally installed directly above a drainage channel, allowing the de-icing solution to flow straight into the drain. The responsible department relocated the nozzles below the channel through repair work last year, but complaints resurfaced last winter when snow buildup again prevented the system from functioning smoothly.
Residents have continued to push for road heating cables as a more effective solution. Gangnam-gu, however, is understood to be reluctant to make an immediate switch, citing the relatively recent installation of the brine-spraying system as well as budget and administrative constraints.
"Residents did not choose this snow-removal method, yet they are the ones bearing all the inconvenience and risk it creates," Han said, stressing that the district must re-examine both the effectiveness of the brine-spraying systems on steep slopes and actual conditions at each site.
She then urged the district to "actively consider a phased transition to road heating cables, beginning with areas that have steep gradients and a high risk of icing," adding that an effective snow-removal plan must be in place before the coming winter to prevent the same problems from recurring.
"No excuse is acceptable when residents' safety is at stake," Han said, once again urging Gangnam-gu to take proactive measures.
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